Our completed projects in Hampton

One that treats the roof, its flashings, its ventilation and its drainage as connected parts rather than as shingles with extras. That means the age and condition of the existing roof, the decking, how many layers are on it, the slope, the manufacturer's installation requirements, ice and water protection, underlayment, starter strips, drip edge, valleys, chimney and step flashing, pipe boots, skylights, ridge caps, attic ventilation and soffit intake, low-slope sections, sheathing replacement, the code requirements and permits, which warranties actually apply and what they cover, gutter size, pitch, downspout capacity and discharge, the fascia, gutter protection, whether solar is coming later, protecting the landscaping, the cleanup and proof of insurance. The wrong question is the price per square. The right one is exactly what is being installed, from the deck up, and what written protection stands behind it.

Because the enhanced warranties and the wind coverage generally require qualifying accessories alongside the shingles — the starter strips, the deck protection, the ridge caps and, depending on the warranty, the leak barrier or the ventilation. Buying the right shingle and substituting the accessories around it can leave the roof outside the coverage the homeowner thought was being bought.

Sheet material used at transitions and penetrations to direct water away from the joints — chimneys, walls, valleys, skylights, pipes and roof-to-roof transitions. A great many roof leaks start at flashing rather than in the field of the roof, which is why the detailing matters more than the brand of shingle above it.

For most homeowners it is a high-quality residential module with strong efficiency, a low degradation rate, and product and performance warranties, that fits the roof geometry available. Efficiency, wattage, temperature coefficient, mechanical-load rating, hail testing and the manufacturer's financial stability are all worth comparing.

Not necessarily. New Jersey's net-metering rules contemplate customers taking supply through Basic Generation Service or a third-party supplier, though billing arrangements can differ. The supplier contract is worth reading, particularly on exported energy and the annual true-up.